The {{translation|'''tailed beasts'''|尾獣|bijū}} are the ten titanic behaemoths within the ''Naruto'' series. They are differentiated by the number of tails they have, ranging from one to nine. The tailed beasts are living forms of [[chakra]], sometimes referred to as {{translation|"'''Chakra Monsters'''"|チャクラのバケモノ|Chakura no Bakemono}},<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 256, page 14</ref><ref name="ch404">''Naruto'' chapter 404, page 14</ref> giving them power that far outmatches most [[shinobi]]. The tailed beasts' chakra is coloured red.

The {{translation|'''tailed beasts'''|尾獣|bijū}} are the ten titanic behaemoths within the ''Naruto'' series. They are differentiated by the number of tails they have, ranging from one to nine. The tailed beasts are living forms of [[chakra]], sometimes referred to as {{translation|"'''Chakra Monsters'''"|チャクラのバケモノ|Chakura no Bakemono}},<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 256, page 14</ref><ref name="ch404">''Naruto'' chapter 404, page 14</ref> giving them power that far outmatches most [[shinobi]]. The tailed beasts' chakra is coloured red.

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According to some, the immense strength that the tailed beasts possess is tempered by their bestial nature, which restricts them from being intelligent enough to use it effectively, thus when the tailed beasts are [[Jinchūriki|sealed within humans]], they are able to benefit from the knowledge of their hosts, giving them the ability to better utilise their powers.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 318, page 11</ref> However, this was proven to be false, as the tailed beasts themselves are in fact sentient individuals with their own personalities and emotions, and because of their power, they were sought out by countless humans throughout the ages, and were usually treated as mere tools to be used or taken, a sentiment they absolutely detest. In addition, they are well aware of their origin and the state of the ninja world.

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According to some, the immense strength that the tailed beasts possess is tempered by their bestial nature, which restricts them from being intelligent enough to use it effectively, thus when the tailed beasts are [[Jinchūriki|sealed within humans]], they are able to benefit from the knowledge of their hosts, giving them the ability to better utilise their powers.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 318, page 11</ref> However, this was proven to be false, as the tailed beasts themselves are in fact sapient individuals with their own personalities and emotions, and because of their power, they were sought out by countless humans throughout the ages, and were usually treated as mere tools to be used or taken, a sentiment they absolutely detest. In addition, they are well aware of their origin and the state of the ninja world.

They also have the ability to [[Tailed Beast Telepathy|communicate telepathically]] with each other and their jinchūriki, and possess several levels of consciousness. There is the initial level where the beast may appear in a habitat of sorts seemingly imprisoned in some way by whatever [[fūinjutsu]] that sealed them.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 496, page 10</ref><ref>''Naruto'' chapter 568, page 10</ref> The second level is where all the tailed beasts can convene, free of any restrictions and communicate with one another. The jinchūriki are also able to enter there, but in order to do so, they must be completely linked with their tailed beasts.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 572, pages 6-7</ref>

They also have the ability to [[Tailed Beast Telepathy|communicate telepathically]] with each other and their jinchūriki, and possess several levels of consciousness. There is the initial level where the beast may appear in a habitat of sorts seemingly imprisoned in some way by whatever [[fūinjutsu]] that sealed them.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 496, page 10</ref><ref>''Naruto'' chapter 568, page 10</ref> The second level is where all the tailed beasts can convene, free of any restrictions and communicate with one another. The jinchūriki are also able to enter there, but in order to do so, they must be completely linked with their tailed beasts.<ref>''Naruto'' chapter 572, pages 6-7</ref>

Revision as of 13:04, June 9, 2013

The nine tailed beasts and their most recent jinchūriki.

The tailed beasts (尾獣, bijū) are the ten titanic behaemoths within the Naruto series. They are differentiated by the number of tails they have, ranging from one to nine. The tailed beasts are living forms of chakra, sometimes referred to as "Chakra Monsters" (チャクラのバケモノ, Chakura no Bakemono),[1][2] giving them power that far outmatches most shinobi. The tailed beasts' chakra is coloured red.

According to some, the immense strength that the tailed beasts possess is tempered by their bestial nature, which restricts them from being intelligent enough to use it effectively, thus when the tailed beasts are sealed within humans, they are able to benefit from the knowledge of their hosts, giving them the ability to better utilise their powers.[3] However, this was proven to be false, as the tailed beasts themselves are in fact sapient individuals with their own personalities and emotions, and because of their power, they were sought out by countless humans throughout the ages, and were usually treated as mere tools to be used or taken, a sentiment they absolutely detest. In addition, they are well aware of their origin and the state of the ninja world.

They also have the ability to communicate telepathically with each other and their jinchūriki, and possess several levels of consciousness. There is the initial level where the beast may appear in a habitat of sorts seemingly imprisoned in some way by whatever fūinjutsu that sealed them.[4][5] The second level is where all the tailed beasts can convene, free of any restrictions and communicate with one another. The jinchūriki are also able to enter there, but in order to do so, they must be completely linked with their tailed beasts.[6]

The tailed beasts are also able to freely transfer their chakra to whomever they choose, and as Kurama has noted, is a less complicated process for them than it is for humans.[7][8]

Contents

History

In the beginning of ninja history, centuries before the founding of the ninja villages, there existed a god-like entity known as the Ten-Tails, which plagued the world until the Sage of the Six Paths defeated and sealed the beast within himself, making him the first jinchūriki. However, knowing that his death would release the Ten-Tails back into the world, the Sage used his ability, the "Creation of All Things", to divide its chakra into the nine tailed beasts, before using Chibaku Tensei to seal its body in what would become the moon.[9][10] Some time after being created, the Sage gave each of the young tailed beasts a name and told them that they would always be together, even when separated. He also told them that one day, they would become one entity again with a different name and form when the one would came to show them what true power is.[11] Despite their close relation to one another, there is a significant amount of friction between them. One such cause was due to Kurama's belief that their strength was determined by their number of tails.[12]

By the time of the formation of the shinobi villages, Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, used his Wood Release techniques to capture and give several tailed beasts to the other shinobi villages as peace treaties, in order to stabilise the balance of power between them.[2] However, after Hashirama's death, the villages had trouble containing the beasts themselves and they began to run wild, so the villages instead moved to seal the tailed beasts within humans. In order to ensure that the jinchūriki wouldn't turn traitor, it has been common practice to choose the jinchūriki from the village's Kage family, such as a sibling or a spouse. The strength of the jinchūriki would then be used to protect the village and be a living display of the Kage's power.[13] Throughout history, very few people have ever gained full control over a tailed beast.[14] Despite this, some have been able to use the power of the tailed beasts outside of actually becoming true jinchūriki. The legendary Gold and Silver Brothers became Kurama's pseudo-jinchūriki, as they were once devoured by it, but managed to survive by consuming some of its own normally-deadly flesh, becoming tinged with its chakra.[15][16]

With the power of the Sharingan, Madara Uchiha was able to control Kurama and use it during his battle with Hashirama Senju.[17][18] During the battle, however, control of the beast was wrested from him,[19] and he was thought to be defeated at the Valley of the End. However it was later revealed that he had in fact survived the altercation, and obtained Hashirama's DNA — his true purpose for the encounter.[20] Integrating Hashirama's DNA into his wounds,[21] Madara awakened the Rinnegan shortly before the end of his natural lifespan. With it, he was able to summon the vessel of the Ten-Tails from the moon.[22] However, using artificial means to expand his life,[23] Madara was unable to carry out his plan to revive the Ten-Tails. As such he passed on this task to a young Obito Uchiha who had come to share his view on the world after Rin Nohara's death.[24]

With the help of Akatsuki, by the time of the Fourth Shinobi World War, seven of the nine tailed beasts had been sealed into the statue.[25] Later, all the beasts — with the exception of Shukaku — were resealed into their respective, reincarnated hosts which had been made into a personalised Six Paths of Pain for Tobi. Irked by the slow progress of the plan, Tobi accompanied by the statue entered the battlefield to obtain the Benihisago and Kohaku no Jōhei which contained the Gold and Silver Brothers.[26] Despite not having sealed the last remaining two tailed beasts entirely — only possessing portions of their power, Tobi decided to begin the plan as the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path undergoes a painful regeneration into the Ten-Tails.[27][28] When Madara realised the situation, he attempted to rectify this.[29] Despite Naruto and Killer B's attempt to destroy the Demonic Statue while in mid-transformation, it was successfully restored into the Ten-Tails, albeit in an incomplete form for a while before reaching its full form.[30]

However, the tailed beasts used in the Ten-Tails' recreation transfered bits of their chakra into Naruto prior to Obito carrying out the process as the Ten-Tails sees them supporting the human in spirit as they all have recognise him as the youth that the Sage of the Six Paths foretold.

The Tailed Beasts

Shukaku

Main article: ShukakuShukaku (守鶴, Shukaku), more commonly known as the One-Tail (一尾, Ichibi), is one of the nine tailed beasts.

Matatabi

Main article: MatatabiMatatabi (又旅, Matatabi), more commonly known as the Two-Tails (ニ尾, Nibi), is one of the nine tailed beasts.

Isobu

Main article: IsobuIsobu (磯撫, Isobu), more commonly known as the Three-Tails (三尾, Sanbi), is one of the nine tailed beasts.

Son Gokū

Main article: Son GokūSon Gokū (孫悟空, Son Gokū), more commonly known as the Four-Tails (四尾, Yonbi), is one of the nine tailed beasts.

Kokuō

Main article: KokuōKokuō (穆王, Kokuō), more commonly known as the Five-Tails (五尾, Gobi), is one of the nine tailed beasts.

Saiken

Main article: SaikenSaiken (犀犬, Saiken), more commonly known as the Six-Tails (六尾, Rokubi), is one of the nine tailed beasts.

Chōmei

Main article: ChōmeiChōmei (重明, Chōmei), more commonly known as the Seven-Tails (七尾, Nanabi), is one of the nine tailed beasts.

Gyūki

Main article: GyūkiGyūki (牛鬼, Gyūki), more commonly known as the Eight-Tails (八尾, Hachibi), is one of the nine tailed beasts.

Kurama

Main article: KuramaKurama (九喇嘛, Kurama), more commonly known as the Nine-Tails (九尾, Kyūbi), is one of the nine tailed beasts.

Similar Cases

In Naruto Shippūden 2: Bonds, it features a creature called the Zero-Tails. Despite having a numerical tail name, it is not an actual tailed beast and it has characteristics that are quite different from them.

Trivia

Despite all the tailed beasts gaining a name from the Sage of the Six Paths, only some such as Son Gokū refer to themselves by that name on a regular bases. Others, such as Kurama and Gyūki, prefer to refer to each other by the number of tails each possess.

In the manga, before Taka began working with Akatsuki, Akatsuki was said to have seven tailed beasts. In the anime, when Taka is sent to capture Gyūki, the group has only six, the seventh missing beast being Saiken to make room for an additional anime-only arc.

Several non-jinchūriki shinobi, such as Kisame Hoshigaki the Third Raikage, and A, have been said to hold chakra levels comparable to that of a tailed beast. In fact, the former has been given the moniker of Tailed Beast without a Tail (尾を持たない尾獣, O o Motanai Bijū, English TV: Tailless Tailed Beast).[31][32] In addition, Madara has claimed that the power of his Susanoo is comparable to that of a tailed beast.[33]